Military Recruitment at My School?

Just out of curiosity, does the military have permission to recruit at all high schools or does it vary? What are the rules around this?

The military does have the permission to recruit at high schools in the United States, and you might often see recruiters from different branches of the military visiting your school. This is in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act 2002 and the National Defense Authorization Act which state that high schools must give military recruiters the same access to campus as they provide to colleges and employers.

However, the extent of this recruitment can vary. Sometimes recruiters might set up tables or booths during lunch breaks or career fairs to provide interested students with information about military careers. Other times they could host presentations or workshops on career days.

The frequency of recruitment may differ. Some military branches recruit more aggressively than others and it could depend on the school's location and the relationship between the school and military recruiters.

Importantly, although these regulations exist, schools do have the ability to opt out of allowing military recruitment on their campuses.

While recruiters might be able to access student's contact information, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), parents and students who are 18 years and older have the ability to opt out of having their contact information (name, address, and phone numbers) shared with military recruiters.

Overall, the rules surrounding military recruitment at high schools can get a bit complex, but generally speaking, yes, the military does have permission to recruit. The degree to which this occurs can be influenced by a myriad of factors including federal regulations, school policy, and individual student and parental choices.